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2 The Globe Daily News
<br />COUNTDOWN from preceding page
<br />the U.S. to wail for its current president to appoint a
<br />commission, as had been done with other major events of
<br />national or international significance. With the coopera-
<br />tion and supportof foundations, individuals, and organiza-
<br />tions, we wcm abic to wac.epi"lize hww •u`tc 1-0u-11-01
<br />should be formed, what it should do, and who should be
<br />invited to be its first member.. Interestingly, many of the
<br />most active members of the commission today have been
<br />members since its creation!"
<br />Ambassador John W. McDonald, a member of the
<br />board of COUNTDOWN 2001. added, "Tbe National
<br />Counci! was one visible, lasting result that emerged from
<br />our public awarenessand networking activities of die late
<br />'8U's. It was one of many that developed front our working
<br />widh caring individuals and organizations who recognized
<br />the exciting potential of a new millennium. We were
<br />fortunate to be able to help a wide variety of organizations
<br />focus on what they could do inwmally and with others to
<br />have a positive influence on the next century. In crime
<br />prevention, cities+ diplomacy, rducation, environment,
<br />conflict resolution, and many other issue areas, we worked
<br />with organizations who were ready to move beyond a
<br />reactive mode to a proactive mindset".
<br />-The '90's•
<br />'By the early '90s, communities began organizing their
<br />own COUNTDOWN Connunity Councils to coordinate
<br />and direct local initiatives for turn -of -the century activities
<br />th=lreally make adifference."Foote continued. "Withthe
<br />support of foundations, corporatiaos and benefactors, we
<br />were able to give these councils the guidance and assis-
<br />tance they needed. Before long, it seemed that communi-
<br />ties, workplaces, nonprofit groups, schools, places of
<br />worship, and families everywhere were involvc6 in
<br />COUhfIDOWN projects. The projects dealt with a wide
<br />range of issues such as health, environment, peace, educa-
<br />tion, hunger, and global understanding. Regardless of the
<br />concerns addressed, all COUNTDOWN 2001 projects
<br />shared certain core assumpdons, processes, standards —
<br />and outstanding results."
<br />"These community -based, turn-of•tbezeniury projects
<br />were a natural extension of the agenda -building process
<br />model that we hzd been ,sing with educational and organ-
<br />izational groups in the'80's. The success of this simple,
<br />adoptable process had been demonstmLed in such varied
<br />settings as New York State Parks, Howard County, Mary-
<br />land Public Schools, and AT&T. as well as the Agenda for
<br />the 21st Century instructional package, which was used in
<br />school districts throughout the country."
<br />When asked what has surprised him the most, Foote
<br />thought fora moment, then replied,"I guess it would be the
<br />Monday January 1, 2001
<br />ease with which every group, regardless of nationality,
<br />nolitical orientation, or level of economic development,
<br />could take the basic COUNTDOWN message and agenda -
<br />building model and adapt them comfortably and effec-
<br />q,_. ___..._
<br />Lively to shape their own piece of Ilse globe, Ns; cZat ry
<br />puzzle. We have ilosands of concrete examples from
<br />places as diverse as Colombo and Columbus.
<br />Mayor Sandy Banks of Mexican Hat, Utah, recalled,
<br />,,our firstCOUNTDOWN2001 project was tocle-In up the
<br />San horn River, back in'91, The process we used has been
<br />as important to us as the results we achieved on the river.
<br />We developed a new way of making things Sappers in our
<br />town that works for everyone and gec=la lards of spirit
<br />and participation. In iact, it's become the vay we work
<br />together it,, Mexican Hat."
<br />Hong Zhnou, spokesperson for the COUNTDOWN
<br />Class of 2001 Project for Beijing, enthusiastically ex-
<br />pressed his appreciation for having beta in the program.
<br />"We believe that we have been giveo the opportutnity to
<br />develop the knowledge, skills, and beliefs that will allow us
<br />Lobe prodthcdve2lstcentury citizens. Wefeelproudofthe
<br />public service activities we conducted, especially our stu-
<br />dent•to-student tutoring program in nral areas."
<br />"Our dream has been more than fulfilled."
<br />-The Realization of the Vision -
<br />COUNTDOWN 2001's belief that intentional activities
<br />recreate, communicate, and ectivatepositve images of the
<br />21st century would result in more meaningf ul, prod- ctive,
<br />and rapid progress for the planet seems to have been well-
<br />founded. MillionsofCOUN—MWNPartners around the
<br />woad accepted the personal challenge to work on their
<br />piece of the planetary puzzle. Many COUNTDOWN 2001
<br />projectshave become models for how groups of peoplecan
<br />work together for the benefit of all. In fact, some of the
<br />rapid progress that has taken place toward improving the
<br />human condition at the end of the 20th cenuny may be
<br />attributable to the innumeratHe COUNTDOWN 2001
<br />projects that have addressed the hn:non agenda on a per-
<br />sonal, community, and global level.
<br />When asked if the COON i DOWN 2001 dream had
<br />been realized, founder Schiller responded, "Yesl I would
<br />gladly do itail again. Whocould have imagined, back -in the
<br />'80s, that such rapid progress would be made by the end of
<br />the century to improve the human condition? if COUNT•
<br />DOWN 2001 has been a caWyst for some of the activities
<br />that triggered or focused this progress, then our dream has
<br />been more than fulfilled."
<br />Related stories and photos on pages 8-9A.
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